The transport descended through clear skies and settled gently onto Aurelion Peaks, a quiet world reserved for soldiers and high-ranking officers who wanted their families far from cameras, broadcasts, and politics. No news towers. No reporters. Just layered security, clean streets, and a sense of calm that felt almost unreal compared to the rest of the galaxy.
Everything here felt… normal.
They drove through winding roads carved into pale stone cliffs until the compound came into view.
A single, massive connected home stretched across the property, designed for three families, yet built to feel like one shared space. Three master suites anchored separate wings. Each child had their own room, their own space. The heart of the house opened into a massive living area and kitchen, sunlight pouring in through tall windows. Outside, a wide patio overlooked a pool, and tucked just far enough away was a private meeting room, where the Greats could talk work without it bleeding into family life.
Ian, Optimus, and Blade stepped inside.
The house was empty.
Quiet.
Blade let out a slow breath.
"…Man, I forgot what silence sounds like."
He glanced around, then spoke more thoughtfully.
"You know, this vacation week could actually be useful."
Ian looked over.
"How so?"
Blade leaned against the counter.
"We step back. Let the other Greats run things. See if Steel and Stark can oversee command like they're supposed to as the next senior Greats."
Ian nodded slowly.
"That's… actually a solid idea."
He turned to Optimus.
"Call them. Have them meet us here."
Steel and Stark arrived not long after.
Steel stepped inside first, looking around.
"Wow. It's quiet in here. Where'd all the kids go?"
Ian smirked.
"The wives took them out to dinner. Some kind of 'no-Greats-allowed' night."
Stark chuckled.
"Smart move. So, why'd you call us?"
Ian gestured toward Optimus.
"Your turn."
Optimus crossed his arms.
"We're taking a full week off. No command decisions. No interventions."
Steel blinked.
"…You're serious?"
"Dead serious," Optimus replied.
"You and the rest of the Greats are running things. We want to see how you lead without us hovering."
Stark straightened a little.
"Alright. We'll do our best."
Steel waved a hand dismissively.
"This'll be easy. Don't know why you're all so serious about it."
Ian smiled faintly.
"Good. Then you won't need us."
Steel and Stark headed out, confidence high.
Later that evening, the front door opened again.
Laughter filled the house as the wives and kids came home, only to stop short at the sight of Ian, Optimus, and Blade passed out on the couch, exhaustion finally catching up with them.
Jace, Optimus's fifteen-year-old son, whispered loudly,
"Wow… they act like their jobs are harder than school."
Keal, Ian's sixteen-year-old, barely looked at him.
"Maybe because they are. School's nothing compared to what they do."
Jace scoffed.
"Yeah, but they don't have tests, grades, or drama."
Keal walked toward the kitchen.
"They have wars."
Scarlet, Blade's wife, raised an eyebrow as Keal opened the fridge.
"How are you still hungry? We just ate."
Keal shrugged.
"Fast metabolism. Or stress. Probably both."
The kids eventually headed to bed. The house settled into stillness, broken only by the soft hum of systems and the dogs snoring near the fireplace.
Morning came with the smell of food.
Ian woke first, blinking as he registered the sound of plates and voices downstairs. He followed the scent into the kitchen, where all three wives were cooking together.
"Where are the kids?" Ian asked.
Elira, his wife, smiled.
"Still asleep. We figured we'd let them enjoy a few extra minutes."
Ian shook his head.
"Absolutely not."
He marched upstairs, knocking, then opening, doors one by one.
"Up. All of you. Vacation doesn't mean chaos."
Groans echoed down the hall.
Moments later, the kids shuffled into the kitchen, half-awake.
Jace muttered,
"Why did you let Ian wake us up? I was having a great dream."
Breakfast disappeared quickly.
Not long after, Optimus and Blade finally emerged.
Blade stretched.
"Should we check in with HQ? See how things are going?"
Optimus poured coffee and shook his head.
"Nope. This week's about family. We'll monitor things, but we're not stepping in unless it's catastrophic."
He glanced around at the kids and wives.
"They've got it handled."